Projects Crazy Transmission Adapter Shoppin' Lists

Lots of talk on the board lately about transmission adapters, but all are specific to makes and models... why not have one for all makes and models - you know - "non-demonational"?

Everybody chime in - what weird-*** things have you had to do to get your transmission to bolt up? Please fill us in on what engine you mated your transmission to, what transmission you're running, and maybe a shopping list of things strange & normal that you had to beg, borrow, and steal (or actually buy) to get the two together!

Hell, throw a few pics in if you can!

I always enjoy seeing how many different ways there are to solve the same problem. And who knows, this could be a hell of a reference for folks later.

~Jason

 

Anybody make their own adapter, or use a non-mainstream combo? We'd love to hear about it!

~Jason

 

I borrowed a Y-Block to Packard adapter plate, to use as a reference to make my Chev to Packard adapter.

The Y-block and the Chev bellhousings have the same sized locating holes - the Y-block plate is thicker than what the Chev requires, and of course the bolt patterns differ.

 

Jason, where is the illustration from?? I have never seen a set-up with the starter mounting plate on backwards...

.

 

Looks like a drawling from Wilcap..I have one of those on my caddy engine..they make great adapters for any kind of engine/****** combo. Their stuff is not cheap but it's top quality and everything fits like a glove

 

If anybody is mating a Chrysler hemi to an old Ford toploader (as shown in diagram), I would suggest releasing the clutch slow and easy while being light on the go-fast pedal. Otherwise you'll get lots of experience changing transmissions. Not everything that can be bolted together should be.

 

That's right off of Wilcap's site. They swap starter sides.

~Jason

 

I'd thought about it - this is one of the tidbits of info I was looking for.

~Jason

 

OMG!

Dude... that IS weird...

~Jason

 

I agree. This is a Wilcap drawing. I purchased an adapter for my 241 Dodge Hemi to Chevy manual trans. Everything fits perfect. Good product and nice people to deal with.

Charlie

 

Not to mention, on the HAMB!

Do a member search for "wilcap" and see...

~Jason

 

i have a 276 desoto and i have a mopar A833 overdrive trans, heres what i'm doing.

heres how i plan to make my own adapter, i start with my stock auto bellhousing and starter spacer, i'll mill off .25" from the rear of the starter spacer, .063" from the front of the bellhousing, .093" from the rear of the bellhousing, that will give me .375" between the front of the trans and the rear of the bellhousing, i'll make my adapter from 1/2" plate, that will allow me to turn a lip 1/8" to fit snug into the auto bellhousing, and in the center of that lip i'll bore the hole to locate the trans, this will keep all correct locations for the trans, spline, disk and flywheel, if anyone sees something i over looked please speak up.

 

...

 

Yes, I would never have thought of putting a Packard behind a Y-Block

 

Heres a solution for the flathead Cadillac guys. My friend got a flathead Cad with its own auto.He made a flywheel and we used the auto bellhousing. Made a stepped adapter plate and put a Ford top loader trans onto it. We also used a Hyd. through out bearing . Made the hooking up of the clutch easy. You could put any manual (standard) trans onto it.

 

Right now i am running a Ford top loader behind a Packard V8. I have also used the same transmission behind a 455 Pontiac and a 392 Chrysler using adapters made from blowshields. I also had a Saginaw 4 speed behind the 392 using a cast adapter. I also adapted a Pinto 4 speed to a Lotus 907 and also my '32 Plymouth banger. Trans adapting isn't hard if I can do it.

 

Man, you should post some pics! That sounds wicked!

~Jason

 

331 cad to T5 to Ford Torque tube. Bought a cheap adapter to go from Cad to early ford top loader. Bought a Ford Hogs head so that I can use the Ford clutch geometry in the ford coupe. Made my own adapter from the Hogs head to the T5. Now just need to save up 45,000 pennies to get the adapter for T5 to torque tube. And save another 40,000 pennies for the Caddy flywheel.

 

I think Chris at http://www.cad500parts.com has those flywheels for $325... he's on the HAMB, too!

~Jason

 

we adapted a powerglide to a BMW engine a couple of years ago for a Comp cl*** car in NHRA. Yes it was a lot of things to make plus cutting away the block to fit the starter to the other side of the engine. bill wallace

 

Unless i can find 'em at a price i can afford, i'm gunna make myself an adapter for both ends of my long bell 331 hemi, on one end a olds hydro, and on the other end of the crank a 6-71



One thing to think of is STACKING ADAPTERS, because almost every motor had an adapter to a '39 box and there are a lot of adapters that go from a '39 flattie to other ******'s, so run 2 adapters and you should be able to get almost anywhere

 

My thoughts, exactly... as long as I don't come up short on the input shaft. LOL!

~Jason

 

I did a how to on the Packard form for the top loader three or four speed to the Packard. Also in the Bonneville racing news. I also had the Chrysler to Ford in the BRN. http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/399239/Transmission_Conversions#Post399239

 

Technically if you are going through a 39 pattern, you shouldnt come up short, because, both adapters wont come up short in their intended uses, you are just changing the back of the motor into a flathead with one adapter and the other one makes the ****** the same pattern and depth as a 39 box

-now starter and throwout arm might be a problem tho

 

There was an outstanding thread about making your own adapter for a Cad flathead here about a month ago. Anyone interested in a strange adapter should check it out.

 

Non Mainstream...

I mated a FWD Ford Fiesta Gearbox to a Fiat Abarth Engine, and I rotated the gearbox untill the driveshats were perfectly level ( not running up- or downhill ) to keep the driveline losses to a minimum.
and then I bolted that Combo in the back of a shortened Lola sports 2000 that I made my own DeDion Rear Suspension for.

 

Now THAT one takes the cake, and makes "Non Mainstream" the understatement of the century!

Nice job, man!

~Jason

 

If you think that was a lot of work ( it was... ), get this.

After a couple of years of racing it, I parted it out.

Put the Abarth Engine back in my 1000TC, sold the Gearbox to a Rally Racer ( it was a Motorsports unit ), and traded the Lola Tub for some Vintage F3 parts.

The Buddy who ended up with the Lola Tub restored it back to original.
( I bet that was a lot of work...)

1st pic of the Lola I started with, 2nd pic of my Parkinglot Racer, 3rd pic of a original Lola Sports 2000.

 

I need a Crosley to Lenco adaptor....

 

I thought you'd use the actual starter off the engine, not a Crosley motor to start it